EIF blueprint for the future of early help recommends better co-ordination of support for vulnerable families including long-term funding, a cross-government taskforce and commitment to evidence-based practice.

After a consultation on the role of children's centres is scrapped, providers challenge ministers to present a bold vision for their future and incorporate this into a government-wide review of support for families.

As the second year of 30 hours funded childcare approaches, James Hempsall outlines what council leaders need to do to ensure the policy reaches those eligible and delivers on early years and social mobility duties.

The government is to develop a rating of pupils' ability when they enter reception, but experts disagree on whether it will be a good measure of schools' work and improve the education that children receive.